MILESTONES

Took part in a family trip to California which included a tour of the Universal Studios

1917:

Took dancing lessons from a Miss Alice Thompson; performed in a fundraising event in Helena and later repeated her "Bluebird" performance at a nearby Army base (date approximate)

1918:

Moved with family to California after the death of her father

1923:

Joined the chorus line of the pre-feature show at Graumann's Chinese Theatre in Hollywood at age 18 (date approximate)

1925:

Made film debut in "Pretty Ladies"; also played a bit part that year in the filming of the massive Biblical epic "Ben Hur"

1925:

Adopted name "Myrna Loy", suggested by a poet friend

1925:

Signed five-year contract with Warner Bros.

1930:

Signed one-year contract with Fox

1931:

Signed contract with MGM

1932:

Supporting role in musical comedy "Love Me Tonight" was a turning point in career, start the breaking of her typecasting as exotic vamps

1933:

Roles in "The Prizefighter and the Lady" and "Penthouse" complete transformation of image to that of sympathetic American romantic leads

1933:

First of seven films opposite Clark Gable, "Night Flight"

1934:

First of 14 teamings with William Powell, "Manhattan Melodrama"

1936:

Voted the number one box-office star by US theater owners

1938:

Voted "Queen of the Movies" in "New York Daily News" poll

1938:

Last film opposite Gable, "Too Hot to Handle"

1942:

Moved to New York

:

Put her film career on hold to work for the New York Red Cross as assistant head of welfare activities for much of the duration of WWII; also arranged entertainment for over 50 military hospitals and worked at stage door canteens

1947:

Founding member of the Committee of the First Amendment

1947:

Last of the "Thin Man" series of films opposite William Powell, "Song of the Thin Man"

1947:

Made last appearance with Powell, in a cameo role as his wife near the end of "The Senator Was Indiscreet"

1948:

After WWII, became a member of the US National Commission for UNESCO; first Hollywood celebrity to work for the United Nations; helped organize its Hollywood Film Committee

1950:

Went to England to star in the film, "If This Be Sin"

:

Active as a member of UNESCO's U.S. Commission

1956:

Took second billing to another actress for the first time in 20 years (since she and Jean Harlow co-starred with Powell and Spencer Tracy in "Libeled Lady" 1936) when she played a major but supporting role in "The Ambassador's Daughter", starring Olivia de Havilland and John Forsythe

1960:

Stage debut in "Marriage-go-Round"

:

Played the heroine's mother in a touring stage production of Neil Simon's "Barefoot in the Park"

1969:

Returned to features after a nine-year absence to play a supporting role opposite Charles Boyer in "The April Fools", starring Jack Lemmon and Catherine Deneuve

1973:

Made Broadway debut in a revival of Clare Boothe Luce's comedy, "The Women"